Old Dominion Cherry Blossom Lager

In 1989, Old Dominion Brewing Company opened its doors to the public and was an immediate success. Word spread throughout the DC area like wildfire. Their loyal following continued to grow and soon became the craft beer of choice for thousands of fans. The Cherry Blossom Lager is their spring seasonal paying homage to the cherry blossoms of their hometown, Washington DC.

The beer pours a light, translucent tan color similar to a weak iced tea. There are defined pink hues when viewed in good light. The head is thin and white in color. It dissipates quickly to a lacing and then disappears all together.

The nose is similar to that of a lager showing crisp malts. There is a light floral hop aroma which is accented by the fruity notes of the cherries. The cherry aroma is faint and presents as a sweet, candy like sour cherry.

The beer is light to medium bodied with a honey-like mouth feel that seems to lightly coat the palate despite its weight. The palate parallels the nose. There are an abundance of grain and malt notes, just as you would expect to find in a lager. On the midpalate there a slightly sweet note. There is no noticeable hop presence, but you know they are present because of beer’s balance (the beer isn’t overly sweet). There is a light cherry note like that of fresh cherries, not an artificial candy flavor. The fruit is notable but not over powering.

A nice effort by Old Dominion. The lager flavors definitely over power the cherry notes but this helps to create a crisp, clean and refreshing session beer. Ideal for pairing with BBQ foods, Thai cuisine and good friends on a warm spring day!